16 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli forces ahead of US embassy opening in Jerusalem

At least 16 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded after violence erupted on the Gaza border just hours before the United States opens its embassy to Jerusalem.

Protesters streamed to the frontier to join the demonstration despite Israel warning Gaza residents they would risk their lives if they tried to breach the border fence.

Military jets had dropped leaflets over Gaza warning residents that the Israeli army would “act against every attempt to damage the security fence or harm IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers or Israeli civilians”.

Leaders of Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls Gaza, however said tens of thousands were expected to head to the border and raised the possibility of large crowds breaking through.

The ceremony is being attended by over 800 dignitaries including daighter of US President, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who leads the presidential Middle East team.

Source: Al Jazeera

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, thousands of Palestinians had gathered at five locations along the line, and at least 28, including two local journalists, were wounded by Israeli gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

Tear gas was also fired by Israeli soldiers into Gaza and Israeli drones were reported to have dropped incendiary materials, destroying tyres stockpiled by activists to burn to create a black smoke that woukd obstruct army snipers.

The Israeli military has said that it has set up several layers of security around the Gaza border in case of a massive breach by Palestinian protesters.

Reports also have it that IDF operatives thwarted an attempted terror attack when three armed Palestinians laid an explosive device near Rafah on the Gaza-Israel border.

Soldiers fired and killed the three perpetrators of the attempted attack, the IDF said.

In addition, an IDF plane targeted a Hamas outpost in the Jabaliya area of the Gaza Strip after identifying it as the source of gunfire at IDF troops. No IDF troops were injured.